Technical Director Jobs for OPT Students
Technical Director jobs on OPT are available across film, gaming, software, and engineering industries. Most roles require STEM OPT eligibility, giving you a 24-month extension beyond your initial 12 months. Employers in this space regularly sponsor H-1B visas, making this a strong long-term career path in the U.S.
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Get Access To All JobsPosting Number AS1084P
Subdivision School of Communication & the Arts
Division Col.Humanities,Ed.&SocScience
Department Theatre
Location Erie, Pa
Position Summary
Gannon University invites applications for a Technical Director and designer in support of Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre’s production season. The successful candidate will:
- Organize stage management for the Shuster Theatre’s performance season, including mentoring and supervising student stage managers and assistants.
- Supervise and collaborate with faculty, student, and guest designers for the Schuster Theatre’s performance season.
- Secure sound and lighting technicians for all performances.
- Manage house operations for productions, and other production-related functions.
- Organize and maintain a working inventory of the Schuster Theatre’s technical properties (lighting and sound equipment, scenic shop).
- Collaborate with Artistic Director and Arts Manager to assign production team roles and manage the technical/design needs of the season’s productions.
- In conjunction with the Artistic Director, train and supervise student workers on scenic/technical equipment and safety precautions, oversee student worker projects that involve scenic/technical equipment.
- Oversee scenic building processes in accordance with safety protocols outlined by Physical Plant. Sign off on safety inspections along with Artistic Director and Arts Manager.
Required Qualifications
Requirements include: Master’s degree in an area of technical theatre (stage management, lighting design, sound design) is required.
Professional experience in the theatre, at least one year of higher education experience with demonstrated strength in effective student supervision, leadership skills, collegiality and a commitment to collaborative process are preferred.
University Mission: Must be able to support and promote the University’s Mission.
Preferred Qualifications
Physical Demands
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Able to meet the physical demands associated with a busy office and University environment. Must be able to lift around 50 lbs and be able to climb a ladder, use power tools, all while adhering to appropriate safety standards.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is performed in a busy office and University setting. Flexible time commitments are required for group activities and individual students.
Exempt Status Exempt
Position Classification Professional
Position Type Staff
Employment Status Part-Time
Position Length 12M
Hours per Week 20
Work Schedule determined by theatrical productions
Shift Other
Posting Number AS1084P
Subdivision School of Communication & the Arts
Division Col.Humanities,Ed.&SocScience
Department Theatre
Location Erie, Pa
Position Summary
Gannon University invites applications for a Technical Director and designer in support of Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre’s production season. The successful candidate will:
- Organize stage management for the Shuster Theatre’s performance season, including mentoring and supervising student stage managers and assistants.
- Supervise and collaborate with faculty, student, and guest designers for the Schuster Theatre’s performance season.
- Secure sound and lighting technicians for all performances.
- Manage house operations for productions, and other production-related functions.
- Organize and maintain a working inventory of the Schuster Theatre’s technical properties (lighting and sound equipment, scenic shop).
- Collaborate with Artistic Director and Arts Manager to assign production team roles and manage the technical/design needs of the season’s productions.
- In conjunction with the Artistic Director, train and supervise student workers on scenic/technical equipment and safety precautions, oversee student worker projects that involve scenic/technical equipment.
- Oversee scenic building processes in accordance with safety protocols outlined by Physical Plant. Sign off on safety inspections along with Artistic Director and Arts Manager.
Required Qualifications
Requirements include: Master’s degree in an area of technical theatre (stage management, lighting design, sound design) is required.
Professional experience in the theatre, at least one year of higher education experience with demonstrated strength in effective student supervision, leadership skills, collegiality and a commitment to collaborative process are preferred.
University Mission: Must be able to support and promote the University’s Mission.
Preferred Qualifications
Physical Demands
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Able to meet the physical demands associated with a busy office and University environment. Must be able to lift around 50 lbs and be able to climb a ladder, use power tools, all while adhering to appropriate safety standards.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is performed in a busy office and University setting. Flexible time commitments are required for group activities and individual students.
Exempt Status Exempt
Position Classification Professional
Position Type Staff
Employment Status Part-Time
Position Length 12M
Hours per Week 20
Work Schedule determined by theatrical productions
Shift Other
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Technical Director
Target STEM-designated programs
Technical Director roles typically fall under STEM OPT when your degree is in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before applying to maximize your authorized work period.
Frame your portfolio around technical ownership
Hiring managers for Technical Director roles want to see systems you built and teams you led. Quantify your impact with specifics: pipeline tools created, performance improvements achieved, or cross-functional projects you drove from start to completion.
Address OPT timing early in conversations
Bring up your authorization timeline during the second or third interview round, not at offer stage. Employers need time to assess whether they can accommodate your OPT end date and plan any subsequent visa sponsorship accordingly.
Distinguish yourself from senior engineers
Technical Director is a leadership title. Emphasize your ability to set technical direction, mentor engineers, and align engineering decisions with business goals. This positioning also signals higher value to employers considering long-term sponsorship investment.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsorship-ready employers
Migrate Mate surfaces Technical Director openings at employers who actively sponsor F-1 OPT candidates. Filtering by visa sponsorship availability upfront saves significant time and targets applications where you have the strongest chance of long-term authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Technical Director on F-1 OPT?
Yes. If your degree is in a qualifying STEM field such as computer science, engineering, or information systems, you can work as a Technical Director on OPT for up to 36 months total: 12 months of standard OPT plus a 24-month STEM extension. Your job duties must be directly related to your degree field to remain compliant with OPT authorization requirements.
Does a Technical Director role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not just the job title. If you hold a STEM-designated degree and the Technical Director role involves work directly related to that field, such as leading engineering systems, software architecture, or technical infrastructure, it qualifies. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan with your school before the extension is approved.
Do Technical Director employers typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Many do, particularly in gaming studios, visual effects companies, software firms, and engineering consultancies. Technical Director is a senior role that companies invest in retaining, which makes sponsorship more likely than for junior positions. Searching on Migrate Mate lets you filter for employers with active OPT sponsorship, helping you identify which companies are genuinely open to sponsoring technical leadership hires.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I change employers as a Technical Director?
You can change employers on OPT, but you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days and update your SEVIS record. Your new role still needs to be directly related to your degree. If you are on a STEM extension, your new employer must also be E-Verify enrolled and co-sign a revised training plan before you begin work at the new company.
What degree fields support OPT authorization for Technical Director roles?
Computer science, electrical engineering, software engineering, computer engineering, information technology, and digital media engineering are the most common qualifying fields. Degrees in production technology or interactive media may qualify depending on CIP code designation. Visual arts or film production degrees without a STEM designation typically support only 12 months of OPT, which is an important factor when evaluating long-term career planning in this role.
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